Sally J

I also have a Brother that I take to class. GREAT MACHINE....I have the Simplicity model but its really the same as the CS 6000i..It's so lightweight (actually lighter than my Featherweight) and the little sewing table that is included is so great. I think it would be a great choice. I checked out Janome and Viking but this little machine has more features for the price.

cjr

Janome 3128. Hancocks has them on sale for less then $100.00 several times a year. I've had one thats taken lots of abuse. Almoswt as good as my FW.

Onebyone

I bought a used Bernina 1260 to take to classes and workshops. I have a Janome Jem that I take as back up. I never go away from home to sew without a backup machine.

quiltingshorttimer

thank you all! Looks like my super nice Elna Quilt Pro Queen will go to class this Saturday--along with the Singer H74--the Singer to have a friend that works at JoAnne's with the machines to take a look at and give me an opinion. I definitely will not be spending a dime on the cheaper Singer that was my Mom's (the Singer Inspiration)--it will be donated to the local thrift shop. At Christmas I gave my cheapie, WalMart $90 Brother to my DIL to learn on--I really liked it when I first got it, but after about 4 years it was not meeting my needs of dealing with more complex blocks. Think I will wait and see what the friend that knows Singer's has to say about the H74--it was a nice machine in the $300 range and if she says it's not worth messing with, I'll take it to my local shop that sells lots of different brands and see what they have I might trade up to. I do like the features of the H74, including the table that comes with it. Will keep you posted! Thanks again (and despite both machines be a problem yesterday, I did manage to get my Twisted T's block of 185 pieces for a 12 1/2" block finished last night--on the Elna!)

Geri B

I once bought the brother CS6000i from Walmart....but because I "read" not so favorable reports on it, returned if, purchased a "higher end" brand....wished I would have kept that Brother!!!!!!!!! This one, believe it or not, has the same footprint, but costs more. I am beginning to think all are put together the same, then different names slapped on the front!

lclang

Manufacturers make "special" machines for high end sellers such as Walmart, and on-line retailers such as QVC. The seller tells them what they want and the manufacturer makes it for them. They can be a really good machine or a piece of junk. It's a gamble. I use Pfaff or Babylock machines and I really love the Babylock for general sewing but it doesn't like to quilt. The Pfaff doesn't mind quilting and is a good general all over machine as well. I learned a long time ago not to buy the cheapest machine. I've worn our several of them and been aggravated to death by several more.

Silver Needle

Singer featherweights and/or 301 are the best for class work if you don't need to zig zag and are only piecing. I have quite a collection of them and DH fell in love with working on them after reading the posts in the vintage section of this site. They sew as nice or nicer than the fancy Bernina 880 I just purchased. But I love it too. Just don't want to lug the big thing around. I can hardly lift it.

PghPat

LOVE LOVE LOVE mine also'

Lady Diana

My goodness, you are so lucky to attend 10 classes a year. I get to take about three, but I love taking my Janome 3160 to class. Is 11 lbs. and has the thread cutter feature, which is great of piecing,....that is all I do in these classes is piecing, so it moves along quickly with the cutter feature. It has a lot of other features as well, check that one out.
If you don't want the cutter, then opt for the Janome Jem. Janomes have a metal frame so it will stand up to a lot of use. Check dealers for a used 3160 is the price of a new one is too high.

Lady Diana

I forgot to suggest not getting a machine at WalMart. They have new return policies, and they will not repair anything that goes wrong with the machine. Then you are stuck with the shipping costs back to Brother, Singer etc.
Also many of the Brothers do not have a metal base and do not stand up to quilting. I too, would only purchase a feather weight Singer. But since you will be piecing and may like the thread cutter and start button, up down feature, then check out the Janome 3160. Many dealers will put you on a wait list for a used 3160. Brubakerssewing.com does this. Also dealers discount their machines that they take to shows..